Rail-joint.



. Improvements in Rail-Joints,of which the fol- 5o rangement of the several parts of a joint A UNITED STATES- Pateneed october e, 190s.^

PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT FJANNIGAN AND JOSEPH R. PARTRIDGE, OF HOUTZDALE,

` PENNSYLVANIA.

SE?ECIFICAIILION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,411, dated October 6, 1903.

Applicant and July 17, 1903.

.To` @ZZ whom Yit may concern: Beit known that we, VINCENT FLANNIGA and JOSEPH R. PARTEIDGE, citizens of the United States, residing at Houtzdale, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented. certain new `and useful lowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.y

This invention relates to improvements in rail-joints, and has for its object the provi-y sion of a joint adapted for use in coupling together the ends of rails of various types, but possessing characteristics which make the same practical and desirable for use in con nection with long rails. Y

Heretofore the use of very long rails has been objectionable, because the contraction of the same caused too large a spaceor gap between the adjoining ends thereof, which destroyed the element most sought in a commercially practical road-continuity and con- Y sequent smoothness in tread-surface.

Unsuccessful attempts have been made to produce a joint which would enable the employment of longer rails than those at present in vogue by the utilization of a short section of rail interposed between the adjacent ends of the long sections, -whereby the separation caused by the contraction of the rails was distributed at tbe ends of said intermediate short section, the results being unfavorable by reason of the impracticability ofthe peculiar means forsecuring the sections of rail in operative relation while permitting a limited slidingV engagement therebetween, a series of bolt-s and Yslots being ordinarily employed for this purpose. n Y

The present invention contemplates a joint in general of the type just referredto where# in a .relatively short section forms an impbr -tantfactor, in Acombination with means for securing said section in a normal fixed position' and i'nstrnmentalities devoid Iof`bolts andnnts aording a limited sliding engage#V ment between the respective ends of the short section and the end of its adjoining long section, all as will more fully hereinafter appear. `Novel details in the construction and arsenal No. 165.969. 'on mods.)

made in accordance with our invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings,forming part hereof, and wherein a preferable embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Figure lv is a side elevation of the joint, parts being shown in section. -Fig. 2 is a top l, plan view. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line X X of Fig. 1, the coupling-section being omitted; and Fig. 4 is .a similar section on line Y Y, same figure. l

I Referring more specifically to the drawings, A A represent the ends of rail-sections .designed to be coupled together. These rails in cross-section are of the customary I shape and at their ends have portions ofthe tread cut away tol expose the upper edge of the web o, said web in turn being provided with `form in conjunction therewith a substan- The upper surface f tially continuous tread-surface, as will be .movement to these ties through the medium of Achairsl) 'D at the ends thereof, and, if necessary, an intermediate chair E, embracing the flanges b and fastened to the center tie, which will directlysustain the free ends of the rail-sections from becoming depressed.

Each chair D comprises a bottomdand upwardly and inwardly extending' portions forming' braces d', the inner faces of which are hallowed ont adjacent to one edge of the chair to fit snuglyover the end of the coup- ICQ ling-section B, While near the opposite edge of the chair the same is formed to snugly engage over the rail A and beneath its tread, Fig. 4. The upper surface of the bottom d of the chairs is fiat throughout, so that the base of the rails A may rest firmly thereupon, and the special configuration of the interior of said chairs provides oppositely-disposed shoulders or stops'd", arranged to abut against the ends of the coupling-section B, whereby any shifting of said section from a predetermined normal position is positively prevented. Any suitable means may be employed for rigidly securing the chairs to the ties C, a convenient method being to form seats c in the ties for the reception of the chairs and to fasten the chairs in said seats by spikes c'.

In the channel of the coupling-section B, at points adjacent to the respective ends of said section, are integral lugs b, arranged to project into the recesses a in the webs a, of the rail-sections A, the length of said lugs being slightly less than that of the recesses,whereby a limited amount of play of the rails A overl the lugs is permitted.

It will be appreciated that by the arrangement of the cooperating lugs and recesses it is impossible that more than a predetermined amount of separation can take place between each end of the coupling-section and the railsections and that any further separation necessitated by the excessive contraction of the rail-sections is necessarily distributed at the two points of the next joint in series.

The joint above described is, as heretofore stated, primarily designed for extra-long railsections, the use of which is prohibited by single joints providing but one point-of separation rather than a double joint, such as the present, affording tWo points of separation. By the use of the former so-called single joints the length ofthe rail-sections is limited, for instance, to thirty feet; but in the use of the latter or double7 joint the sections may be at least double that length, or sixty feet, because the increased separation therebetween is distributed at several points, as before explained.

While a particular embodiment has been disclosed herein, itis not our intention to be restricted to any details thereof except in so farasanysuch details arespeciiicallyincluded Ain the appended claims, as slight changes and alterations may obviously be made Without in the least departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rail-joint, a coupling-section adapted to slidably engage the sections to be joined,` instrumentalities for securing the coupling`l section in place including means for engaging the end portions of said section to prevent endwise movement thereof, and means on the interiorv of the coupling-section for limiting the endwise movement of the other sections.

2. In a rail-joint, a cou pling-section adapted to slidably engage the sections to be joined, instrumentalities for securing the couplingsection in place including fixed abutments for the ends of said section to prevent end- Wise movement thereof, and means on the interior of the coupling-section for limiting the endwise movement of the other sections.

3. In a rail-joint, a cou pling-section adapted to slidably engage the sections to be joined, chairs for securing the coupling-section in place, and upwardly-projected means carried by the chairs for engaging the end portions of said section to prevent endwise movement thereof.

4. Inarail-joint, acoupling-section adapted to slidably engage the sections to be joined, chairs for securing the coupling-section in place adapted to embrace the sides of the sections to be joined, and fixed abutments on the chairs for engaging the ends of said section to prevent endwise movement thereof.

5. In a rail-joint, a coupling-section adapted to slidably engage the sections to be joined, and chairs for securing the couplingin place, each chair comprising a base portion, means for engaging the end portion of a rail-section, and means for engaging the end'portion of the coupling-section.

6. In a rail-joint, a coupling-section adapted to slidably engage the sections to be joined, and chairs for securing the coupling in place, each chair comprising a base portion, means for engaging the end portion of a rail-section,

means for engaging the end portion of the coupling-section, and an abutment between said last two mentioned means for engaging the end of the coupling-section.

7. In combination with a pair of rail-sections, a joint therefor comprising a couplingsection, a slidable lug-and-recess connection between said rail-sections and coupling-section, and instrumentalities for securing the coupling-section in place including means for engaging the end portions of said section to prevent endwise movement thereof.

8. In combination with a pair of rail-sections, a joint therefor comprising a couplingsection, a slidable lug-and-recess connection Vbetween said rail-sections and coupling-section, and instrumentalities for securing the coupling-section in place including fixed abutments for the 'ends of said section to prevent end Wise movement thereof.

9. In combination with a pair of Arail-sections, a joint therefor comprising a couplingsection, a slidable lug-and-recess connection between said rail-sections and coupling-sect-ion, chairs for securing the coupling-section inplace, and means carried by the chairs for engaging the end portions of said section to prevent endwise movement thereof.

10. In combination with a pair of rail-sections, a joint therefor comprising a coupling- IIC section, a slidable lug-and-recess connection between said rail-sections and coupling-section, chairs for securing the coupling-section in place, and fixed abutments on the chairs for engaging the ends of said section to prevent endwise movement thereof.

11. In combination with a pair et' rail-sections, a joint therefor comprising a couplingsection, a slidable lug-and-recess connection between said rail-sections and coupling-section, and chairs for securing the coupling in place, each chair comprising a base portion,

means for engaging the end portion o-fa railsection, and means for engaging the end porv connecting the rail-sections to the couplingsection, means for securing the coupling-section in place including means for preventing endwise movement of said coupling-section, and means for limiting the endwise movement of therail-sections away from the couplingsection.

14. In combination with a rail-section pro-- vided with a recess, a coupling member acl-- joining the end thereof, a lug-on said coupling member adapted to project into said recess to constitute a sliding connection, and means for securing the coupling member in place against endwise movement.

15. In combination with a rail-section provided with a recess, a coupling member U shape in invertedcross-section, a lug on the interior of said coupling member adapted to project into said recess to constitute a sliding connection, and means for securing the coupling member in place.

16. In combination with a rail-section provided with a recess, a hollow coupling member, a lug on the interior of said couplingmember adapted to project into said recess to constitute a slidin g con nection,.and means for securing the coupling member in plac against endwise movement.

A 17. In combination, a rail-section and a coupling-section, one of said sections being provided with a recess, a lug on the other section cooperating with said recess to constitute 'a sliding connection', and means for securing the coupling member in place.

18. In combination, a rail-section andv a coupling-section U shape in inverted crosssection, one Aof said sections4 beingprovided with a recess, a lug on the other section cooperating with said recess to constitu te a sliding connection, and a stop for limitingthe endwise movement of the rail-section away from the coupling-section and means for securing the coupling member in place.

19. In combination, a rail-section and a hollow coupling-section, one of said sections being provided with a recess, a lug on the other section cooperating with said recess to constitute a slidingconnection, and aA stop for limiting the endwise movement of the railsecti'on away from the coupling-section and means for securing the coupling member in place. A

20. In combination, a pair of rail-sections and an intermediate coupling-section, means for securing the coupling-section in place,

land a slidable connection between each end of the coupling-section and a rail-section comprising a lug onrone of said sections coperating with a recess in the other of said sections, said connection constituting astop for limiting the endwise movement of the railsections away from the coupling-sections.

21. In combination, a pair of rail-sections and an' intermediate coupling-section U shape in inverted cross-section, means for securing the coupling-section in place, and a slidable connection between each end of the couplingsection and a rail-section comprising a lug lononeof said sections coperating with a recess in the other of said sections, said connection constituting a stop for limiting the endwise movement of the rail-sections away from the coupling-sections. Y

22. In combination, a pair or railsections and an intermediate hollow coupling-section,

means for securing the coupling-section in place, and a slid able connection between each end of the coupling-section and a rail-section comprising a lugon one of said sections cooperating with a recess in the other of saidV sections, said connnection constituting a stop for limiting the endwise movement of the railsections away from the coupling-sections.

In testimony whereof we affix our signa tures in presence of two witnesses.

Y VINCENT FLAN N IGAN .f

JOSEPH R. PARTRIDGE; Witnesses:

HARRY G. BIRKHOLDER, CHARLES F. SMITH.

IIO 

